NORMAL, Ill. – In conjunction with Illinois State's commitment to tradition and innovation, Redbird Athletics is proud to unveil a bold new look for a campus icon: Reggie Redbird.
The updated mascot design project, led by Illinois State University Marketing & Communications in partnership with Redbird Athletics, blends decades of passion and pride, bringing Illinois State's brand to life with bolder, more expressive features. It reflects a stronger, more athletic image while preserving the playful spirit fans have loved for over 40 years.
"The new modern look for Reggie embraces the changes we see today in college athletics," Illinois State Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs said. "The changes in the costume allow him to be more involved in game day activities, because of a greater ability to move freely. We finally got our Bird a new pair of shoes! The bottom line is that Reggie is important to all of us and the heart of Reggie has not changed, just his appearance."
Designed to honor the past and energize the future, the refreshed Reggie Redbird will officially debut at Hancock Stadium on September 6, giving Redbird fans their first chance to meet him in person.
"Reggie has always been a beloved part of our athletic and campus community, and after more than 40 years, we thought it was time to give him a fresh update that captures his spirit," Illinois State University Marketing and Communication Graphic Design Manager Mike Mahle stated. "Our team poured a lot of love into researching and designing Reggie's new look. We paid close attention to every detail to make sure the final version would turn out just right. Crafting the head sculpture was especially tricky, so we mocked up multiple facial options. Our goal was to make it look more like the iconic Redbird head logo while keeping it friendly and inviting for younger fans."
History of Reggie Redbird
In 1923, athletics director Clifford E. "Pop" Horton and Daily Pantagraph sports editor Fred Young collaborated to change the University's unofficial nickname away from "Fighting Teachers." Horton wanted "Cardinals," but Young changed the nickname to "Red Birds" to avoid confusion with St. Louis' baseball team. Over the next decade "Red Birds" morphed into "Redbirds."
Early versions of what might be considered a Redbird logo began appearing by the 1930s. The first renditions either borrowed heavily from the St. Louis Cardinals or were realistic illustrations of a cardinal in a tree. By the 1960s, four bulked-up, tough looking birds joined together to spell "ISNU" on their shirts. The bird wearing "N" disappeared after "Normal" was dropped from the University's name in 1964, and this design eventually gave way to anthropomorphic birds dribbling a basketball and carrying a football.
It wasn't until the "thumbs-up" bird came along in the early 1980s that the University settled on a standard redbird logo. The current redbird head logo was unveiled in 1996, and today stands as the primary logo for Illinois State Athletics.
Reggie Redbird's appearance as ISU's mascot has changed over the years as well. Bird mascots were introduced at games in the 1950s, and in 1981, the mascot was officially named when he was coined "Reggie Redbird" by the Junior Redbird Club, naming him after baseball great Reggie Jackson. He's been a fixture at games, on campus, and throughout the community ever since and will continue to be for years to come.
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